Florida teen dismisses Meta addiction lawsuit

A Florida teenager has dropped his closely watched lawsuit against Meta, sparing the social media giant from a jury trial that was set to begin next week in Los Angeles. The 15-year-old plaintiff, identified in court documents as R.K.C., voluntarily dismissed his claims on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, just days before the trial was scheduled to start.

The lawsuit alleged that Meta’s platforms, along with those of other major tech companies, were intentionally designed to be addictive, contributing to the teen’s depression, anxiety, and social media addiction after he began using them around age eight. R.K.C.’s case had already narrowed significantly ahead of trial after he reached confidential settlements with YouTube and TikTok in June, and a tentative settlement with Snap was reported earlier this week.

In a statement, attorneys for the teenager said he withdrew his remaining claims against Meta in light of the overall successful result of the litigation and his concerns about enduring a grueling weeks-long trial. They stated he is ready to close this chapter and focus on his recovery and therapy as he aspires to have a normal life.

Meta confirmed the lawsuit was dismissed without...